Seizures Flashcards
What causes a partial motor seizure and what are the effects?
What are some examples?
- caused by a lesion in the motor cortex
- brief episodes of abnormal movement in the contralateral body part
- limb jerking, chewing gum fits, head bobbing
What happens in a partial sensory seizure?
- foci in sensory cortex
- fly biting, tail chasing
What is an atonic seizure?
loss of muscular activity but consciousness is maintained
What is an absence seizure?
unconsciousness with no tonic or clonic phase
What are the phases of a generalized seizure?
Pre-ictal phase
Ictal phase
Post-ictal period
Describe the pre-ictal phase
subtle behavior changes before the actual convulsion
- can be minutes (aura) to hours (prodromal)
Describe what happens in the ictal phase
- sudden loss of consciousness
- tonic phase: sustained muscle contraction
- clonic phase: running/paddling, autonomic signs
Describe the post-ictal period
- gradual return to consciousness
- strange behavior
What is the action of Phenobarbital?
enhances GABA
increases seizure threshold
What is the contraindication of Phenobarbital?
liver disease
What are the adverse effects of Phenobarbital?
- PU/PD/PP, sedation, hyperactivity, hepatotoxicity
- increased ALT and ALP
- lipemia
What is the action of Potassium Bromide?
competes with Cl- at Cl channels
What is the contraindication of KBr?
renal insufficiency
What are the adverse effects of KBr?
- polyphagia, GI irritation with anorexia and vomiting, sedation
- bromism: ataxia, paresis, hyporeflexia, tremors
What type of drug is Imepitoin?
What are adverse effects?
- low affinity partial benzodiazepine agonist on GABA receptors
- adverse effects: PU/PD, hyperactivity
